Fixture for rebasing lamps



Oct. 20, 1925. 1,558,373

R. c. LEAKE FIXTURE FOR REBASING LAMPS Filed Sept, 24, 1921 3 Sheets-sheaf. 1

3a 2 as 3 4 I By %OR EY.

Oct. 20,1925. 1,558,373

R. C. LEAKE Fli'rtnis FOR REBAS'ING LAMPS Filed Sap}, 24, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @ATTORNEY.

Oct. 20,1925. 1,558,373

R. c. LEAKE FIXTURE FOR REBASING LAMPS Filed Sept. 24. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN R. BY M14 /&- Ai'TORNEY.

'ets in such a Patented Oct. 20, 1925.

UNITED STATES v 1,558,373] PATENT OFFICE.

I RICHARD C. LEAKE, OI ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, 01' GATES, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK;

rixruan son assassins LAMPS.

Application filed September 3541321. Serial R0. 502,955.

residin at Rochester, in the county of, Monroe an State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 'in Fixtures for Rebasing Lamps, of which the This invention relates to ap aratus for locatingor forming the means y which commercial electric lamps are supported in sockrespectto the laments of these lamps, that these filaments will be in the proper focal point in each case when inserted in a light projecting unit adapted to receive such lamp.

More particularly, the invention relatesto such apparatus for producing in a commercial way electric lamps for the lightsignals,

used in railway signaling systems. I In light signals for railway signaling, it

is necessary of obtain visibility for along 5 range and through a wide angle of spread, in the daytime as well as night; atthe same time the energy consumption shouldbe low, because primaiybatteries are usually .used and also because the lamps are sometimes lighted continuously. These conditions have led to the adoption of a lamp witha concentrated filament, and a lens, reflector, or similar optical device for directin and concen-,

tr'ating the light in the desire direction in the most efficient manner. Obviously, it is essential that this concentrated filament should be accurately located with respect to the local point of the lens or other optical device; but lamps of commercial manufactin-e do not have their filaments located accurately. with respect to their bases or other element by which the lamps are supported, so that when commercial lamps are put in a signal from time. to time to replace those burned out or destroyed, each lamp has to be individually adjusted or focused for that particular signal. Such adjustment, being made in the field, is cumbersome and expensive. ordinarily requiring at least two workmen, one to make the adjustment, and-the other ata distance from the signal to determine from the appearance of the signal when the proper ad ustment has been made.

In order to obviate this undesirableprocedure each time a new lamp is placed in a signal, it is proposed to fix up or rebase the lamps after they have been manufactured by provide a simple and yet accurate assembling redetermi-ned relation with (parts being shown in section;

- arrows commercial methods, so that their filaments will come inthe 1S put in service. a I

The purpose of thepresent invention is to proper place when the lamp fixture which. can be cheaply and effectively man pulated by ordinary labor to adapt lamps of commercial manufacture forinterchangeable use in light si nals. Morespely, the assembling xture embodying this invention is designed to facilitate the attachment of an auxi iary base or sleeve to a regular base of the lamp in such a position that the lamp, when inserted in the lamp socket of a signal, will have its filament located at the proper point. e Other features and objects of the invention will appear hereinafter as the detail description rogre'sses.

In describing the invention, in etail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a side view of one specific embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1, portions thereof being omitted and Fig. shows a sideelevation of the device shown in Fig. 1, viewed from the right Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken'on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1,

v Fig. 5 is a'detail view showing the insulated binding post of the device;

Fig; 6 is a sectional View taken on the "line 6-6 in Fig. 2, viewed in'the direction of the arrows; a

Fig. 7 illustrates a standard, with respect to which the sighting device of the appai atus may be adjusted; and

Fig. 8 shows the rebasing sleeve.

The particular construction of fixture illustrated is designed to position a lamp with the usual plain cylindrical base in an auxiliary base by which the lamp is secured in a socket.

comprises a sleeve or collar of brass or like conducting material whose outside diameter is such as to fit snugly in the lamp socket,

and whose inside diameter is slightly larger 105 vidcd with outwardly projecting radial pins 110 j viewed in the direction. of the 8 I In the specific construction 10o shown, this auxiliary base 1,- (see Fig. 8).

fastened thereto, two pins being 7 shown in this instance. Inforder-to provide I a. quick detachable sup oi't for the -lamp,

wh ch will also accurate y locate the lamp, the well-known bayonet type: of socket is used, and the pins 2 are intended to fit in the usual bayonet slots of the socket.

' prises in general, asupport for retainingthe rebasing sleeve 1, an organization of The fixture embodying the invention com- I plane with respect to the sleeve, and a suit.-

. fastened an upperbracket 7.

slotted near its lower en basing sleeve.

able sighting device positioned in a fixed relation with respect to the support for the I rebasing sleeve for determining when a lamp has been adjusted to the position where its filament has a certain relation to the rebasing sleeve. In order to line up the filament to the best advantage, it is preferably lighted, and the fixture is arranged to conduct current to the lampwhile it is I being adjusted. 25

Referring to the accompanying drawings, see Figs. 1, 2, and 3) the main supporting ame of the assembling fixture is made up of a base plate 3, inverted U-shaped bar 4,

and a brace 5 fastened rigidly together. To

the shelf-like su port formed by the bar -4 and brace 5 is astened a lower bracket 6, and to this lower bracket is adjustably In the conupper bracket 7 is (see Fig. 3) and is gripped between guide pieces 8 by two tap bolts 9 passing through the slot' into a down-turned portion of the lower bracket 6.

In the lower bracket 6 is rotatably mounted the holder for the rebasing sleeve 1. This holder is formed of a flanged and threaded tubular member 10 which fits in a hole in the lower bracket 6 with its flange against the upper face of the bracket, said tubular member 10 being held in place while free to turn by a nut 11 hearing against the under side of said lower bracket. The hole in the tubular member 10 is of the proper size to receive the rebasing sleeve 1, which is also gripped therein by a screw 12. The flange of the tubular member 10 is also provided with two radial slots or notches 13 to, receive the pins 2 of the re- Two pins 14 in the flange of the member 10 are arranged to engage struction shown, the

a fixed pin 15 in the lower bracket 6 and defined two definite positions 90 apart.

Referring to Fig. 6, within the member 10 is a vertically adjustable plunger 16 by means of which current is conducted to the center contact of the lamp when in the rebasing sleeve 1, and which also serves to determine the vertical position of the lamp as a whole. This plunger 16 is guided in an insulating collar 17 within the tubular member 10 and is fastened by a small trans- I verse pin to a circular block 18 of suitable nut 19, the block .18 and the plunger 16 fastened thereon, may be raised and lowered. A locking nut 20 is provided to hold the adjusting nut 19 in a set position. To the lower end of the plunger 16 is connected a wire 21 leading to an insulated binding post 22 (see Fig. 5) and'by connecting one inc wire from the source of current to this binding post 22, and the other line wire to the other binding post 23 which is grounded to the frame of the fixture, current" is supplied to the lamp.

The lamp to be rebased is held in placein the rebasing sleeve 1 and adjusted with respect to that sleeve by an arrangement comprising a block 24 of wood or similar material having a recess faced with felt or the like in its underside (see Fig. 6) to receive the upper end of the lamp bulb. This block 24 is raised and lowered by a rod 25 with a suitable knob or handle at its upper end, which is loosely stud 26 clamped bya nut 27 1n a hole in the upper end of the upper bracket 7. On the stud 26 is rotatably mounted a disk 28, and between this disk and the block 27 is a 'li ht compression coil spring 29, the ends of t is spring being guided by the stud 26, and a washer on the block 24. Fastened to the disk 28 by screws or the like, are two uidedv in it pairs of downwardly extending arms 30,-31

embracing the block 24 on four sides. In each of these arms 3031 is threaded an adjusting screw 32 which bears against the edge of the block 24.

In order to stiffen and brace the structure, the pair of arms 31 are extended below the arms 30 and are adjustably connected at.

-justably supported by screws in rings 36 fastened to a bracket 37 which is rigidly secured to the u per bracket 7, as shown.

It is essential t iat the line of si ht of the telescope should be at right ang es to the j axis on which the tubular member lO turns,

and to enable this relation to be easily established'forthe different adjustments of the fixture to take difierent sized lam s, the tele scope is'provided with the nsu level 35. Also, the .axis on which the tubular member may turn is accurately made perpendicular to the base plate 3, so that when the fixture is placed on a horizontal surface, the

telescope need be merely leveled up to do" sure that its line of sight will be at right angles to the axis of the tubular member 10.

Y i the stander the filament with respect to the socket in which the rebased lam is to be inserted. This standard 38 is put in the tubular member 10 with its two pins fitted in the notches 13; and then the telescope 35 is adjusted so :that its lineof sight coincides with the bead in the notches 13.

f scope in the rings of the standard. Coarse vertical adjustment of the. telescope 35, may be obtained by adjusting the upper bracket 7, and a finer adustment vertically and sidewise is obtained y means of the screws supporting the tele- After the fixture has been set up is as follows. A rebasing sleeve 1,-as'shown in'Fig. 8, is first inserted in the upper end of the tubular member 10 and clamped therein by the screw 12,.(see Fig. 4) care being taken that the pins 2 of this sleeve seat fully The block 24 is then raised by the rod 25, a lamp setinto the rebasing sleeve, and the block 24 again lowered. The spring 29 then forces the block 24 and the lamp down until the center contact of the lamp1 rests on the plunger 16, whereupon the lament is lighted, current being carried thereto through the plunger 16 and through the ,rebasing sleeve 1, grounded to the'fixture.

After insertion of the lamp the whole lamp holder is turned to one extreme posi-' 'tion, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and then the lamp bulb is turned to 'pbsition the concentrated filament thereof, a double filament being shown) flatwise with respect to the telescope. The whole lamp is then raised or loweredby turning the adjusting nut 19 until the filament is at the proper height.

#The whole/lamp may be'tilted one wayor the other by means 'of the adjusting screws 32, so as to line up the filament in a vertical plane. After the lamp has been adjusted for the next lamp.

for the size of lamp to be rebased, the manipulation for this position, the entire holder isturned through without changing the adjustnient previously made, and'a course of adju'stment made for the other vertical plane.

The adjustments for these two different positions of the lam may be repeated, if neeessar until the lament lines u with the cross airs of-the telescope for 0th ositions, corresponding to two vertical p anes at right angles. When the desired adjustment has been obtained, the rebasing sleeve is fastened to the regular lamp base, preferably by two or more small drops of solder on the upper edge of the rebasing sleeve, as indicated in Fig. 6 After the reba sing sleeve has been soldered in place, the lamp is removed and the same procedure followed It will be observed that-this assembling fixture enables lamps of ordinary commercial manufacture, to have a rebasin sleeve attached thereto in such a way w en'the lamp is inserted in a socket, the rebasing sleeve, which determines the position of the lamp as a whole, will cause the lamp to assume such a definite position that the filament thereof, regardless of its location in the lamp as originally manufactured,- will be at a point having a certain relation with respect to the socket. 'It is to be understood that the sockets for these rebased lamps wiil have a standard relation to the focal point eral light signals. sothat any rebased lam can be inserted in the socket of any signa and without any adjustment, the filament of this lampwill come in the proper point with-respect to the lens or reflector and will also'be turned flatwise to the projecting axis of the signal. While the filament of the lamp may have any desired relation with respect to the axis and pins of its rebasing sleeve, provided the sockets of the signals arelocated accordingly, the simple positions ing preferred is that where the filament, or more specifically its luminous center, IS in the axis of the sleeve and per endicular to the line of the pins at a fixed distance above this line.

From the foregoing it will be evident that, by employing a fixture embodying this inof the lens or other optical device inthe, sevlow vention, lamps manufactured on a commerlamp will fit any one of a large number oflight signals adapted to receive. such a standardized lamp. .Ordinary labor, with little experience, can quickly adjust the lamp and solder the rebasing sleeves in place.

- While there is shown and described one specific construction embodying. this invention,,applicable to one specific type of lamp and rebasing sleeve, the same arrangement therein to fit over the end of the lamp bulb,

means for yieldingly pressing said block toward said plunger and thereby holding the lamp firmly, and means for adjusting said block in any direction laterally with respect to the axis of said plunger.

2. A device of the character described for rebasing incandescent lamps comprising, an optical device defining a definite 'line of vision, a holder for supporting an incandescent lamp therein and rotatable upon an including axis through said line of vision, said holder manually operable means for shifting the lamp therein to any desired endwise or tilted position with respectto said axis and line of vision, and means cooperating with the lamp base to conduct current to the filament of the lamp while in said holder.

' 3. A device of the character described for positioning rebasing sleeves on the bases of incandescent lamps in a predetermined relation to the filaments of said lamps and adjustable for use with lamps of different sizes,comprising a-base member having a socket therein to receive the rebasing sleeves, means for adjustably supporting a lamp with its base in a sleeve, said means being extensible to support lamps of different sizes and permitting a lamp of the size for which the means is set to be shifted endwise 'or tilted, optical means adjustably supported by said base member for determining when the filament of the lamp has the desired space relation to said socket, and standards for determining the proper adjusted position of said optical means for lamps of different sizes, each standard having a base portion to fit said socket and a small sighting bead having a space relation to the base portion which corresponds to the proper location of the filament oi the corresponding size of lamp with respect ti) its rebasing sleeve.

4. Apparatus for rebasing incandescent lamps comprising, a support having a socket to hold a rebasing sleeve, a lamp holder having a predetermined fixed relation to said socket and including adjustable means for supporting a lamp in any endwise or tilted position relative to said socket, means engaging the lamp base for conducting current to the filament of the lamp while in said holder, and optical means for deteradjusting.

mining when the lighted filament of a, given lamp in the holder'occupies a predetermined space relation to said socket and likewise to the rebasing sleeve therein, whereby any lamp may be adjusted to and held in that particular endwise or tilted position with respect to, a rebasing sleeve in which the filament of that lamp has a certain prescribed space relation to said sleeve.

5. Apparatus of the character described for attaching rebasing sleeves to incandescent lamps and thereby providing a number of rebased lamps each insertable in a bayonet type socket and having its filament located at a predetermined'point with respect to said socket, said apparatus comprising a support for the rebasing sleeves. lamp holding means for bodily supporting a lamp by engagement with its bulb and center of its base in adjusted endwise or tilted relation to said sleeve, and optical means for determining the location of a lamp filament with respect to said support, said lamp-holdingmeans and said optical means being adjustable with respect to said support to provide for lamps of diflerent sizes, and a standard for each size of lamp for determining the proper adjustment of said apparatus for that lamp, said standard having one end shaped like a bayonet type lamp base so as to fit in said support for the rebasing sleeve, said standard being provided with a sighting point having a space relation to said end corresponding to the proper location of the filament of the size of lamp which said standard represents.

6. Apparatus for rebasing electric lamps comprising, a member having means for holding a bayonet type base, a lamp holder supported for rotation about the axls of said base, and means for adjusting a lamp in the holder lengthwise and angularly with respect to said member.

7. A rebasing fixture comprising, a socket member to receive an auxiliary rebasing element, and means for holding a lamp with its base operatively associated with sa1d rebasing element and permitting ad ustment of the lamp as a whole lengthwise and J angularly with respect to said element.

8. Apparatus for rebasing electric lamps comprising, a rotatable lamp holder, a socket member arranged in the axis of said holder and shaped to receive thebase of an electric lamp, and means for tiltably adjusting said lamp in said holder w1th respect to the socket member.

9. In apparatus of the character described for permitting attachment of rebasing sleeves to the plain cylindrical bases of 1ncan'descent lamps of commercial manufacture in such position that the filaments of the several lamps have a predetermined space relation to their respective attached rebasing sleeves, thecombination with abase lll member having a socket to receive the rebasing sleeves, and lamp holding means engaging the bulb of a lamp and the center contact of its base for adjustably supporting said lamp bodily with its base in the rebasing sleeve, said means permitting the lamp to be shifted endwise or tilted with respect to said socket and its axis, said means being rotatable as a whole and with the lamp therein in its existing adjusted position about the axis of said socket through an angle of 90, and optical means for deter mining when the filament of a lamp is in a predetermined space relation to said socket. 10. Apparatus of the character described for holding an incandescent lamp having a single contact plain cylindrical base in various tilted and endwise shifted positions with* respect to a rebasing sleeve around the lamp base, comprising a member having a recess in which the rebasing sleeve fits, and means engaging the center contact of the lamp base and the bulb of the lamp for bodily supporting the lamp with its base in said sleeve, said means being adjustable to shift the lamp endwise or tilt it with respect to the axis of the sleeve in any direction.

11. Apparatus of the character described forpositioning rebasing sleeves on the bases of incandescent lamps comprising, a member having a cylindrical pocket and grooves extending radially therefrom to receive the rebasing sleeve, optical means for determining when the filament of a lamp in said rebasing sleeve has a predetermined space relation to the axis of said pocket and the plane of its grooves, and means for bodily supporting a lamp with its base in said sleeve in such adjusted position as will bring the filament at the point determined by said optical means, said lamp-supporting means including an insulated member contacting with the center contact of the lamp base, whereby current may be supplied to light the filament of the lamp.

12. Apparatus of the character described for positioning rebasing sleeves on the bases of incandescent lamps comprising, a member having a socket to receive the rebasing sleeve, means for clamping said sleeve in the socket, optical means fondetermining when the filament of a lamp having its base in the sleeve lies in a plane through thgtaxis of said socket and a predetermined dis ance therefrom, and means mounted for rotation on the axis of said socket for bodily supporting a lamp with its base in the sleeve,

' said lamp-supporting means permitting the lamp to be moved with respect to the socket independently sidewise and endwise.

13. Apparatus for adapting rebasing sleeves'to lamp bases in a definite relation to the filament comprising, a support having means to receive a rebasing sleeve, and means including a plunger movable along ing a lamp with its base inserted in the sleeve in a position where the filament of the lamp is located at a predetermined pain with respect to said sleeve.

14. A device of the character described for positioninga sleeve with radial pins on a plain cylindrical base of an incandescent lamp in such position that the filament of the lamp bears a predetermined space relation to the axis of the sleeve and the plane of its pins, said device comprising a member having a socket with radial grooves to receive the rebasing sleeve, a plunger movable along the axis of the socket and arranged to engage'the center contact of the lamp base therein, optical means for determining'when the filament of the lamp is in the axis of the sleeve and a predetermined distance from the plane of its pins, a supporting frame mounted for rotation on the axis of said socket through an angle of 90 with respect to the sighting line of said 0 tical means, and means engaging the lamp ulb at a plurality of oints around its periphery and co-actmg with said plun-- ger to support the lam bodily, said last mentioned meansbeing a justably supported the lamp therein to be tilted in either 0 'two said frame and permittin 15. In a rebasing fixture of the character the axis of sleeve for locating hold- 7 described for positioning rebasing sleeves upon the bases of incandescent lamps of commercial manufacture, the combination with a member holding a rebasing sleeve, lamp-holding means supported by said member for bodily supporting a lamp with its base in the sleeve, said lamp-holding means comprislng a plunger engagin the center contact of the lamp base, an means engaging the end of the lamp bulb at three or more points around its periphery and. adjustable to tilt the lamp in either of two planes at right angles to each other and passing through the axis of the sleeve, said adjustable means being movable into and out of its bulb' engaging; position without changing the existing ad ustment and thereby faci itating insertion and removal of the lamps.

16. In a rebasing fixture for electric lamps, holding means for the lamp comprising, a member engaging with the center contact of the lamp, and a block shaped to engage the upper part of the bulb of the lamp and spring-pressed toward said mem- 17. Apparatus of the character described for positioning rebasing sleeves on the bases of incandescent lamps comprising, a main support having means for holding the rebasing sleeves in the same fixed relation to said support,. means engaging the bulb cit-he lamp at three or more points, a

lamp base and cooperating with said means to support the lamp bodily, said means and plunger being carried by said support and relatively adjustable thereto to move the lamp endwise or tilt it, and means including said plunger for conducting current to the filament of the lamp while supported in its various adjusted positions.

18. In a rebasin fixture of the character described for p9 ltioning rebasing sleeves on the bases ofzi'ncandescent lamps, a member having a socket to receive the rebasing sleeves, a lunger adjustable along the axis of said soc et, means for engaging the outer end of the bulb of a lamp and acting to press said lamp yieldingly against said plunger, said means being adjustable laterall with respect to the axis oftsaid socket in ependently in two planes at right angles to each other, whereby the lamp may be tilted in any direction with respect to the axis of the socket.

19. In a rebasing fixture of the character described for positioning rebasing sleeves on the bases of incandescent lamps, a member rigidly supporting the rebasing sleeves, a plunger movable along the axis of the sleeve so held for engaging the center contact of a lamp base in said sleeve, whereby current may e supplied to light the filament of the lamp, lamp holding means for bodily supporting the lamp with its base in said sleeve and adjustable to shift said lamp endwise or tilt it with respect to the axis of said sleeve, said lamp holding means permitting the endwise and tilting adjustments to be made independently, and optical means includin' a lens and reference marks for determining when the lam has been shifted to that articular endwise or tilted position in which its filament bears a predetermined space relation to the rebasing sleeve.

20. In a rebasing fixture of the character described for positioning rebasing sleeves on the bases of incandescent lamps, a member holding the rebasing sleeves, a support adjustable substantially parallel with the axis of said recess, lamp-holding means carried by said support for engaging the bulb of the lamps therein, and optical means for determinin when the filament of each lamp having its ase in said recess has a predetermined relation thereto, said optical means being adjustably secured in said support and also movable therewith, whereby the lamp-holding means and said optical means are adjustable in unison and also independently with respect to said base member to provide for lam s of different sizes.

21. In a rebasing fixture of the character described, lamp-holdin means engaging the bulb of a lam an the center contact of its base, a mem er holding the rebasing sleeves, said member and means being relatively adjustable to permit any lamp to be placed in that particular endwise vor tilted relation to a rebasing sleeve where the filament of that lamp has a predetermined space relation to that sleeve irrespective of manufacturing inaccuracies in the location of-the filament with respect to the lamp base optical means for determining when the filamentof a lamp in said holding means is in the proper relation to the sleeve, and means for supplying current to the filament of the lamp while supported in its various adjusted positions, said current supplying means including an electrical connection to said mi'nber" and to the part of said lampholding means which engages the center contact of the lamp base.

22. In a rebasing fixture of the character described for positioning incandescent lamps with their bases in rebasing sleeves in a predetermined relative relation to the lamp filament, the combination with a base member holding a rebasing sleeve, of lamp supporting means comprising a plunger for engaging the center contact of a lamp base in said sleeve, and. means engaging the outer end of the lamp bulb at three or more points around its periphery, said plunger and means cooperatin to bodily support a lamp and being adj usta le relatively to each other and with respect to said base member to shift the lamp in said sleeve endwise or to tilt it in either of two planes at right angles to each other, said endwise and tilting adjustments being made'independently.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.

r RICHARD O. LE AKE. 

